Cherunatturi Bhagawathi of Chithilamcheri
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander
Chithalancheri is a small village in Melarcode
Panchayath and is located on the way to Pollachi from Trichur . This
village ias about 20 km from Palghat
town and is 4 km from the small town called Nemmara.. It is believed that the name of the village is
derived from the word Chuthu illam cheri
(Village surrounded by Namboodiri
houses) The goddess presiding in
the temple here is called Cherunatturi Bhagawathi. Apart from
the Bhagwathi , the temple also has sub
temples for Shiva, Ganesa as well as
NavaKanyas. Apart from this is also a statute
of a five headed serpent. Worship
is also offered to this Naga devatha,This main statue is kept over statues of other serpents. Devotees believe
that if we worship Cherunatturi Bhagawathi
by doing Pushpanjali
(Ashtothara which is common in
temples of other states in South
India is uncommon in Kerala. The Priest
worships the Goddess with flowers ,
mainly red hibiscus using thanthric methods . A special pooja is called
Rakthapushpanjali) then the fear
for snakes or dreams involving
snakes would get cured. Another
peculiarity of this temple is the
freely roaming cats in the temple.
The major
festival of the temple is Chithilancheri Arattu , which is celebrated in the
month of Makaram(January 15th to February 15th).The
Chithilamcheri vela is celebrated in
the month of Medam.
